Ultralight mesh encourages unfurlable reflectors
A recently closed activity from TDE, with Space Engineering in Italy, wanted to find out if it was possible to build an ultralight mesh that could be used to make very large antennas in a way that they could unfurl once in space.
This key technology is vital for enabling European non-dependence in the realm of mesh reflectors.
The material had to be less than 50g/m2 and had to undergo significant testing to reach the target TRL.
Three tungsten monofilament-based meshes were designed for the activity and underwent mechanical and radio-frequency testing. Gold-plated tungsten was identified as the best for the mesh. After various manufacturing processes were trialled to essentially knit a mesh using the tungsten monofilament as yarn and while issues were found with each, the activity was able to improve the process and atlas-atlas stiching was shown to be the most suitable
The lightweight and unfurlable RF reflective mesh was found to have both good RF properties (low loss, depolarisation, PIM free) and good mechanical properties (quasi-isotropic behavior and no plastic deformation), and other tes
The activity produced a mesh which could be suitable for not-PIM-critical Low Frequency applications e.g. Earth Observation missions, such as BIOMASS.